U.S. Ambassador to OSCE urges Turkmenistan not to shy away from discussing human rights issues

21:48, 01 March 2014, 1056

AKIPRESS.COM - U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Daniel Baer made a statement at the OSCE Permanent Council. He appealed to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and urged him to pay greater attention to human rights in Turkmenistan, according to the Gundogar news service.

Hopefully this year, Turkmenistan's commitments in the framework of OSCE will cover the human dimension sector. In this regard, Turkmenistan is urged to take part in the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting. Of course, some civil society activists attending the Meeting draw Turkmenistan’s protest but this Meeting is the most important forum for all OSCE state members in order to hear and respond to the criticism, as well as to discuss implementation of the commitments, Daniel Baer said.

Due to non-participation of Turkmenistan in these meetings, only civil society speaks about the country. Please, arrive in Warsaw in September and get involved in the discussion, Mr. Baer stressed.

The U.S. Ambassador to OSCE also urged the Government of Turkmenistan to consider recommendations on more effective and full implementation of the country’s commitments in the human dimension sector. Turkmenistan should study the recommendations made by the UN Human Rights Council in the Universal Periodic Review, he noticed.